MEMPHIS, Tenn. -
The University of Houston men's basketball team opens the 2008 postseason at 2:30 p.m., Thursday as it faces No. 6 seed UTEP during the quarterfinals of the Conference USA Championship at FedExForum.

The Miners advanced to the quarterfinals after a 71-49 win over No. 11 seed SMU on Wednesday afternoon during the first day of the Championship.

Fans can hear Wednesday's game live on 950 AM Radio Mojo with Tom Franklin calling the play-by-play action. The pregame show is slated to begin 10 minutes before tip-off.

Fans always can follow live stats at UHCougars.com by clicking on the GameTracker link.

Senior guard Robert McKiver leads the Cougars with 23.1 points per game and has recorded 1.7 steals per game to rank second in C-USA in both categories. The New Haven, Conn., recently was named to the All-Conference USA First Team for the second straight season and earned USBWA All-District VII and NABC All-District 9 honors.

Senior forward Dion Dowell, who was named to the All-Conference USA Third Team, tops the Cougars with 6.7 rebounds per contest.

This will be the third time that these two teams have met this season with each team winning on its home floor. The Cougars enjoyed a 77-72 win at Hofheinz Pavilion on Jan. 19, while the Miners closed out the regular season with an 87-81 win in El Paso on March 8.

It also will be the first time that the two teams have met in the C-USA Championship.

This marks the fourth straight season that the Cougars will compete at the C-USA Championship and the 11th time in the last 12 seasons. Only an absence from the 2004 Tournament prevents a much longer Cougar streak.

UH will be looking to advance to the Championship semifinals for the third straight season.

Guard Stefon Jackson leads the Miners and Conference USA with 23.9 points after finishing with 10 points against SMU on Wednesday. Guard Randy Culpepper paced the Miners with a game-high 25 points on Wednesday, while Marvin Kilgore added 14 rebounds.